Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan listens during a a hearing on “Oversight of the Federal Trade Commission,” on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., July 13, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Wurm/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights
Sept 21 (Reuters) – The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday sued U.S. Anesthesia Partners and a private equity firm in Texas federal court, accusing them in a novel legal complaint of restricting competition to drive up prices for patients.
The agency’s lawsuit in Houston federal court said health and technology-focused private equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe led a “roll-up strategy” of buying out anesthesia practices in Texas. This made physician-owned U.S. Anesthesia Partners (USAP), which it created more than a decade ago, the dominant provider in the state, the FTC said.
Biden-appointed FTC Chair Lina Khan had vowed to examine what she said was…
